Burns Night Celebration

Tomorrow night around the world tributes to the life and works of Robert Burns will be held, through the ritual of the Burns Supper. Originally started a few years after his death by a group of his friends and acquaintances to honour his memory, the suppers are now celebrated annually on the date of his birth, 25th January.

No Burns Supper would be complete without the haggis, the dram of whisky, the songs, the recitals, occasionally the dancing and always the fun.

He had such a way with words … Robbie Burns, a man of words, a poet, a romantic, an orator of his time … a master of communication.

O my Luve's like a red, red rose, That's newly sprung in June: O my Luve's like the melodie, That's sweetly play'd in tune. As fair art thou, my bonie lass, So deep in luve am I; And I will luve thee still, my dear, Till a' the seas gang dry.

No doubt if, he were alive today, he would join us in the celebrations with a wee dram himself!

I love books

I love books and could quite happily spend all my time reading. I love real books, old fashioned books where one can turn the pages, smell the newness of the page and follow the print on the page easily and comfortably. I like being able to mark the page with a colourful book marker and stop for a moment and think about what I've read. I love books in old fashioned bookshops that haven't been opened for some time. I love books that can be carried easily in a well packed handbag that can be taken out to snatch a moment or two in a crowded place awaiting a plane or a train. I love books that can take me to a place in my mind and imagination on a bad day. I love books that challenge me and make me think differently about things I thought I already knew so much about. I love books that inspire me with their words within their hard backed covers. I love books where the poetry unfolds and expresses notions of love, happiness, sadness and mixed emotion. I love books and how they educate, inform, inspire the mind and thought processes. I love books. Do you?

How does snow weather you?

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As a result of the recent heavy snowfalls I took the time to

• admire the winter wonderland near where I live
• breathe in the cold air
• try out lots of new soups
• ride the local bus into town
• get the wrong bus home and short cut through fields of snow in the sunshine
• read more and write more in the dark and snowy evenings
• watch the children sledging in a nearby park
• connect with neighbours when clearing paths and cars
• watch the robins, blue tits and red lapwings that fed from the birdtable in my garden
• break in my new walking boots
• be appreciative of living in a country of different seasons
• enjoy one or two glasses of 'vin chaud' more often
• feel alive and well

What about you?

How is the snow for you?

Ready for change?

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On New Years Day, the Man and me went walking around Dorney Lake. It was a bright, cold and sunny day. Lots of people had the same idea to walk around the lake and take in the fresh air on the first day of 2010. It was good to walk and talk, walk and think, walk and ... well just walk some more. It was also good to contemplate the changes over the last few years and changes about to occur in the forthcoming years. Some known, some unknown. I noticed the changes in and around on the lake itself, the planting of new trees, the colours of the trees, the cynets changing from young to adult swans. The lake itself has changed and developed over the years since we've been going there. Even today the place is changing and developing for future events.

Dorney Lake is the venue for rowing and kayaking in the Olympic Games in 2012. The Man, a keen rower is most excited about this particular change. I look forward to watching the changes unfold and I plan to be there too watching one or two of the rowing events. (Contrary to rumour it has been known for rowing widows to attend events!)

As we walked and talked I gave serious thoughts to my New Year Resolutions. I've jotted them down on an inside page my 2010 diary. I wondered about changes that lay ahead. How different would things may be at the close of 2010. I can't predict the future. I can plan for one or two events. I wonder what world changes will affect me. I wonder how changes I make will affect the world. Now there's a sobering thought for the New Year. And you, what of your changes? How might you change during this year?

Wishing you happiness and success for 2010.